Ski manufactured to have pre-bored screw holes for the mounting of bindings

Abstract

A ski manufactured to have screw holes for receiving binding mounting screws in the intermediate mounting zone of the ski. The screw holes correspond in number and position to the arrangement of mounting screws of at least one binding apparatus for binding a shoe or boot to the ski. The screw holes can be made by molding or machining the exterior envelope and inner core layer of the ski and can be capped or filled with plugs. The screw holes are preferably covered with a protection sheet provided with corresponding references designating the location of the covered screw holes. Manufacturing skis to have pre-bored screw holes eliminates the need for templates and boring tools otherwise required when mounting bindings to skis which is normally performed in ski shops by the retailer.

We claim: 
     
       1. A ski manufactured to have a binding mounting zone comprising a number of bores corresponding at least in number and in position to a mounting screw arrangement of a binding apparatus for binding a shoe or boot to a ski and a protection element composed of a material selected from the group of translucent material, transparent material, and opaque material, covering said bores. 
     
     
       2. The ski according to claim 1 wherein said bores correspond in number and in position to the mounting screw arrangement of a plurality of different binding apparatus. 
     
     
       3. The ski according to claim 1 wherein said bores have a dimension corresponding to a dimension of the mounting screws of the binding apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The ski according to claim 1 comprising a reinforcement plate covering said binding mounting zone. 
     
     
       5. The ski according to claim 1 wherein said protection element comprises at least a portion of the upper cosmetic surface of the ski. 
     
     
       6. The ski according to claims 1 wherein said protection element is provided with graphic references to designate the location of said bores. 
     
     
       7. The ski according to claim 6 wherein said graphic references include characters. 
     
     
       8. The ski according to claim 7 wherein said characters include numerals. 
     
     
       9. The ski according to claim 7, wherein said characters include letters. 
     
     
       10. The ski according to claim 6, wherein said graphic references include symbols. 
     
     
       11. The ski according to claim 6, wherein said graphic references are color-coded to designate the location of a particular arrangement of bores. 
     
     
       12. The ski according to claim 1 wherein said protection element is provided with convex references to designate the location of said bores. 
     
     
       13. The ski according to claim 12, wherein said convex areas are integral raised areas of said protection element. 
     
     
       14. The ski according to claim 12, wherein said convex areas are protuberances attached to said protection element. 
     
     
       15. The ski according to claim 1 wherein said protection element is provided with concave references to designate the location of said bores. 
     
     
       16. The ski according to claim 15, wherein said protection element is provided with graphic references. 
     
     
       17. The ski according to claim 16, wherein said graphic references are members selected from the group consisting of symbols, designs, numbers, letters and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       18. The ski according to claim 17, wherein said graphic references are color-coded. 
     
     
       19. A method of manufacturing skis adapted to receive a binding apparatus comprising the steps of: (a) providing a ski having a front end, a tail end and including (i) a base surface, and   (ii) a contiguous core layer having an intermediate zone adapted for mounting ski bindings;     (b) forming a number of bores having an arrangement corresponding in at least number and position to a mounting screw arrangement of a binding apparatus in said intermediate zone of said core layer;   (c) covering said bores in said intermediate zone with a protection element having an upper surface; and   (d) modifying said upper surface of the protection element to have references designating the location of said bores.   
     
     
       20. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 19, wherein said forming is accomplished by machining said bores into said intermediate zone of said core layer. 
     
     
       21. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 19, wherein said forming is accomplished by molding said core layer to have bores in said intermediate zone. 
     
     
       22. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 19, further comprising filling said bores with removal plugs prior to said covering said bores with a protection element. 
     
     
       23. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 14, comprising: (d) covering said intermediate zone with a reinforcement plate.   
     
     
       24. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 23, wherein said reinforcement plate is provided with orifices corresponding in number and in position to said bores formed in said intermediate zone. 
     
     
       25. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 19, wherein said modifying is accomplished by providing said upper surface with raised areas as said references. 
     
     
       26. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 25, wherein said modifying is accomplished by providing said upper surface with impressions as said references. 
     
     
       27. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 26, wherein said impressions are obtained by gluing said protection element over said intermediate mounting zone such that said protection element deforms to form concave areas in the opening of the bores. 
     
     
       28. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 26, wherein said impressions are obtained by heat shrinking said protection element to result in hollowed out areas above said bores. 
     
     
       29. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 26, wherein said impressions are obtained by stamping said upper surface so as to result in indented areas in said protection element. 
     
     
       30. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 19, wherein said modifying is accomplished by printing graphic symbols as said references on said upper surface. 
     
     
       31. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 30, wherein said graphic symbols include numerical characters. 
     
     
       32. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 30, wherein said graphic symbols include alphabetic characters. 
     
     
       33. The method of manufacturing skis in accordance with claim 30, wherein said graphic symbols include trademarks.